
While it was my total despair with human beings that led me into volunteering, it’s the goodness and kindness that I’ve witnessed as I’ve worked alongside my fellow humans that have kept me coming. Psychologists call the mental boost from volunteering the “helper’s high”, and litter-picking turned out to be my gateway drug. Since my first foray into volunteering four years ago, I’ve not stopped. I used to think that people who volunteered regularly were retired, or didn’t work for some other reason. But I learned that volunteers are people who make time for the things they care about. Since I moved to the Scottish Highlands in September, I’ve tried to volunteer somewhere every couple of weeks. It’s been a brilliant way to meet people, as well as helping me to get to know my new environment.
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